Gas-engine



(No Model.) 2 SheetSI-Sheet 1.

J. EEAETEE.

1 GAS ENGINE. No. 292,894.- Patented Peb. 5, 1884.A

N. PETERS, Phom-Lienegmpher. washington. D, C.

2 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

(No Model.)

J. CHARTER.

GAS ENGINE.

No. 292,394. Patentedfeb; 5, 1884;

7 mf m m m j y Unirse siam-iis PATENT' trice.N

Joux oni-ineen, on STERLING, ILLINoIs.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent No. 292,894, dated february 5, 18S/l.

Application filed April 19, 1853, (X0 model.)

To all' whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN CHARTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of Vhiteside and State of Illi-L nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clearand exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap- 1o pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked there on, which form a part of this specification.`

My invention pertains to that class ofen`v gines which are operated by a mixture of` gas and air, and embraces novel mechanism-for the use of such mixture as such motor. i In thel drawings, Figure l is a vertical sec# tional view of a machine embodying Iny in`` 2o vention, taken in the line .fr .fr of Fig. 2. Fig.

2 is a plan sectional view of the same in the Aline x w of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view of the saine in the same plane as that of Fig. 2, but with the parts in different relation. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional eleva tion of the devices for admitting the gas and air. Fig. 5 is alike view ofthe exhaust-port and adjacent parts. Fig. G shows the construction and location of the valve d' for the 3o admission of air to the recess b for scavenger purposes.

Ais the base of the engine, furnishing a support generally and fulcrums at different points, 'as shown.

B is a cylinder, within which the processes of both compression and explosion occur.

C is a working-piston acted upon by the explosion, and which communicates power to the shaft D through the medium of the pis- 4o ton-rod D', which latter is pivotally attached at its inner en d to the piston C, andat its outer end clasps the crank'E of the shaft D, and thereby revolves the latter. rIhe shaft D is provided with the usual elbow-crank, F, near its center, and with the usual flywheel, F, and to such shaft `the machinery to be driven by the engine can be attached in` any suitable yfway. m The piston C, in addition toY communikeating power, performs also the ,function of 5ocompressing the gaseous compound prior to explosion, and, in conjunction with the transA- place.

ferrer G, the further purpose of expelling the y in the cylinder B at the end of the latter op` posite to that traversed by the piston C.

` Referring to thehdrawings, Fig. I represents the respective positions of the piston C and transferrer G at the moment explosion takes It will be observed that in the position last named the transferrer G is at the limit of its outstroke and the piston C at the limit of its instroke. The crank E in this figure is at its inmost limit and on the plane of the piston-rod D. Between the opposing faces of the transferrer G and piston C is the compressed charge preparatory to ignition.

In Fig. 3 the explosion has taken place and the piston C been driven to the limit of its outstroke, rotating the 4shaft D one-half of a revolution. As the shaft D, by the momentum communicated to it from the fly-wheel F,

eompletesthe next succeeding quarter of a.

revolution, it carries the piston C to the posi` tion shown in Fig. 2. The quarter-revolution last named of the shaft D, by means of intermediate mechanism hereinafter specied,

has also driven the'transferrer G to the limit of its instroke, the opposing faces of such transferrerG and piston G being almost in contact, as shown in Fig. 2, or near enough to expel the products of combustion from the cylinder B through the exhaust-port a. vAfter the explosion ofthe gaseous mixture and the resultant position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 3, that portion of the cylinder B between the opposing faces of the transferrer G and piston C was filled with the residuum of combustion, which, of necessity, must be expelled before such space can be occupied by the succeeding charge of explosive compound. This is accomplished by the 4mutual approach of the transferrer G and piston C before referred to, and as shown in Fig. 2. Such mutual approach of the opposing faces aforesaid `forces the interposed products of combustionthrough the exhaust-port a. This process is aided and rendered more effectual by the following supplemental provision: An annular recess, b, is formed in'the interior wall of part of the cylinder B traversed by the transferrer G.` 'A

roo

short tube, e, outside of and parallel with the cylinder B, communicates at one end with the recess b and atits other end with the cylinder B, in front of the transferrer G and near the inmost limit of the latter. An inwardly-opening automatic valve, d', (see Fig. 6,) is seated at the outer end of the tube e, and the latter has, through the seat d of such valve, communication with the outer air. An automatic Io check-valve, d, opening toward the center of the cylinder B, is placed in the tube e, near the inner end of the latter. The outer end of the transferrer G iills the annular recess b, and as the opening from the tube e into the recess b is near the inner end of the latter, the transferrer G in its outstroke immediately uncovers such opening, and in its outward passage fills the recess b with outer air drawn through the valve d', the valve d having meanwhile cut off 2o communication at the other end of the tube e. AAs the transferrer G makes its instroke, the pressure of the air in the recess b closes the valve d and opens the 'valve d, and the outer head ofthe transferrer G filling the annular 2 5 recess b, as aforesaid,the instroke of such transferrer forces the pure air which filled the recess b through the tube e into the cylinder B,

in front of the transferrer G, and out of such cylinder through the exhaust-port a. It is obvious that the expulsion of the air which passes from the tube e into the center of the cylinder B is forced from the latter and out through the exhaust-port ct by the joint action ofthe enlarged head of the transferrer Gand 3 5 the inner face of the latter, so that such process is greatly hastened. By the use of the air-chamber b, as aforesaid, and the passage .-.VV/ -th-rough the same of fresh air, I am enabled to keep that part of the cylinder B and the trans- 4c` ,ferrer G sufficiently cool without a waterjacket. The fresh air forced from the recess b into the cylinder B and out therefrom through the exhaust a assists to cool such parts, drives out the products of combustion, and extinguishes any fire remaining in the residuum of the gas employed. Another advantage of the recess b is that it increases the capacity of the cylinder B behind the transferrer G in the process of drawing in the next charge of mixed 5o gas and air, thus giving a larger area to the lineal foot than the explosive and compression portions of the cylinder B, and rendering it feasible to give the transferrer G a short stroke, and yet draw in behind it a charge sufficient to ll the space between the transferrer G and piston C when both of the latter are at the limit-s, respectively, of their outstroke. The same inward movement of the transferrer G e., from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that 6o shown in Fig. 2-and which assisted the piston C, as aforesaid, in driving out the products of the next previous combustion, serves also to draw in behind the transferrer G, through the inlet H, a charge of mixed air and gas for the next explosion.

H is an inlet-port, Fig. 4, through which the gaseous mixture is admitted into the cylinder B. Ari automatic inwardly-opening valve, H, is seated Ain the bottom of the'inlet H, and opens and closes the air-tube H2 and gas-tube H3, surrounding the air-tube H2. yGas is admitted into the gas-tube H through a lateral opening, H4, therein.

rlhe exhaust-port a has seated therein a positive inwardly-opening valve, c', (see Fig. 5,) which latter is actuated by a lifting-spur, u?, on the rock-shaft c. rlhe rock-shaft a isoscillated by the rod I, having a crank-connection therewith, and eccentrically collared at its other end on the shaft l); or such rock-shaft a3 may be oscillated by attachment in any suitable way to other parts of the machine. While the shaft D is completing the last quarter of its revolution, so as to return to the position shown in Fig. l-that of preparat-ion for explosion-two processes are taking place in the cylinder B. First,the transferrer G forces the gaseous mixture from behind such transferrer, through the tube f/,to its front, the tube g having, as shown in Fig. 3, the ports h and h communicating. with the cylinder B. The other process, which takes place during the transition of the parts from the positions shown in Fig. 2 to thatshown in Fig.vl, is that the piston C, in following the transferrer G inward, compresses against the inward face of the latter the charge in readiness for the next explosion. By the use of mechanism hereinafter described, the recession last named of the transferrer G is more rapid than the last half of the instroke of the piston C, whereby room is made between the opposing faces of such transferrer and piston for the admission of a portion of the gaseous mixture before such transferrer has completed its outstroke; and as the compression exerted by the incoming piston O is Aequal to that of the transferrer G on the mixture behind the latter, the movement of the latter and the aforesaid transfer of such mixture require no more force than would be necessary for compression alone. This mode economizes time and power, as the ingress or transfer of the mixture and its compression are simultaneous, and the result substantially of the same force. The process aforesaid of transferring the mixture is expedited and made to require less power by providing a recess, z', in the inner wall of the cylinder B,leading from the port 7i of the tube g to nearly the inner face of the transfer-rer G when at the limit of its .instroke rlhus the pressure at the outer end of the latter is relieved before it has sensibly progressed. lt will be seen that the piston C closes the exhaust-port a before the transfcrrer Glets in the new charge, thus preventing the escape of any ofthe latter, as might be the case were the closing of such exhaust-port` dependent solely upon the action of the valve a.

K is a reciprocally-acting ignitorfwhich plays in an enlargement and prolongation of the tube g, and serves also as a cut-off for the IOC IIO

port h' of the tube g, and isactuated by the rod K', eccentrically oollared upon the shaft D. A transverse opening, j, Fig. 3, is formed inthe ignitor K,and a` longitudinal hole, k, extends from the opening j to the outer end of the iguitor K. In each end of the hole k are placed the Haine-checks k. A pin, k", having a transverse hole, passeslaterally through'the ignitor K and hole k in such position as that the transverse hole in the pin k2 will be a con tinuation ofthe hole L'. The ignitor K in its outstroke withdraws sufficient to uncover the port l1.' and to permit the passage of the gaseous mixture from behind the transferrer G through the tube ,r/ into the cylinder B. The instant the latter reaches its outstrokeI the tube g and that portion of the cylinder B between such transferrer and the piston C are filled with the gaseous mixture under the same pressure. As the ignitor K passes inward it iirst cuts off the passage of the mixture in the tube g4 through the porth', and as the ignitor passes on to the limit of its instroke it further compresses the mixture remaining in the tube f/ and forces the "latter through thehole 7.1. There is a piece of metal, preferably of platinum, placedin the transverse openingj, which, by the explosion, is kept at suclrincandescent heat as to ignite the charge in the cylinder B through the opening 7' Eachu instroke of the ignitor K, by reason of theincreased compression aforesaid, iills the hole 7' with the gaseous mixture. An outside fiame, Z, communi` cates fire to the gaseous mixture in the holej,

L nearly or quite vertical.

and the extra compression aforesaid insures the ejection of the ignited mixture into the` cylinder B. I iind, however, in practical use, that after a few explosions Ican dispense with the oiitside flame, Z, as the heated metal sufiices for liring the charge. By turningthe pin lf2 the amount of mixture passing throughthe hole k may be regulated.

L is a lever fulcrumed on the base A at L', and oscillated by the rod I, eccentrically attached, as aforesaid, to the shaft D. To the upper end of the. lever L is pivoted the toggle M, which lat-ter at its opposite end is pivotally attached to the crank N of the oscillating shaft O, journaled in the supports O', or otherwise suitably support-ed. An elbowcrank, l?, is formed in the shaft O, to which the outer end of the VrodSis attached pivotaily, the opposite end of the rod S being afxed to the-transferrer G. The rod S is furnished l with the joint S', to permit the outer end of such rod to describe the oscillations of the crank I?. In Fig.` l the lever L is shown at about ve-sixths of its outward oscillation. It can readily be conceived as having passed to its outer limit when the toggle M would be The lever L, on its return-stroke, will have proceeded so far as to have raised the toggle M to nearly the horizontal before any inward impetus will be imparted to the transferrer G, so that while the lever L passes from the position shown inbFig.l

llto'the verge of its outstroke and about oneiifth ofthe return-stroke the transferrer G remains stationary. It is` during this interval that the piston C is thrown outward 'toits outstroke by the explosion, andthe advantage of the intermittent rest aforesaid of the transi ferrer G is that no power of the machine is lost in forcing such tranferrer against the explosion,as would be the case didsuch transferrer concurrently follow the piston C in the outstroke ofthe latter. Then the explosion has spent its force and the piston C at the limit of its outstroke, as shown in Fig. 3, the lever L will be at about one-fifth of its instroke and the toggle M nearly horizontal. During the residue of the instroke of lever L from the point last named, and until the return of such lever to the position shown in Fig. 1,- such le stroke. Thereby the transferrer G, after eaclr,D

explosion, passes in to the exhaust-port a, to there meet the piston C and wit-h the latter expelthe products of combustion. The `first part of the outward transit of the transferrer G is the most rapid, so as to afford room between it and the piston C for-the ingress of the next charge of the gaseous mixture; and while the piston G passes on from the position shown'in Fig. 2 t-o the limit of its instroke the transferrer G recedes to its outstroke-the position for explosion. As before explained, this full motion of the transterrer G- not only assists to expel the residuum of combustion, but draws in and transfers the gaseous mixture, and also fills the recess b and expelsd the air therefrom. These different functions of the transferrer G in nowise interfere with each other.

T is the ordinary governor, suitably connected to the gas-inlet tube H", and arranged to cut off part or all of the gas-supply, as occasion may require.

V V are the usual annular water-jackets for cooling the piston C end of the cylinder B.

In my machine I dispense with cam movements in actuating the transferrer and piston, and economize both space and material by using but one cylinder for all purposes.

By varying the respective-diameters of the ends of the cylinderB, I can secure any desired degree of compression ofthe explosive mixture.

-I find by actual use that my in aehine as herein described is a practical success'.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a gas-engine, the combination of the cylinder B, transferrer G, and piston C, arrangedand operating substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. The cylinder B, provided with the annu- IIO lar recess I), the tube e, tube g, transferrer G, to register with the port 7L and cylinder B, in

and piston C, arranged and operating in eombination, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specied.l

3. The transferrer G, in combination withv specified.

5. The combination of the rod I, lever L, toggle M, shaft O, having crank P, rod S, and transferrer G, substantially as shown, and ior the purpose herein named.

6. The cylinder B, having inlet-port H, fubeg, having communications 71, and h with such cylinder, and the trausferrer G, in combination, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

7. The cylinder B, having the recess i and inlet-port H, the tube g, having communications IL and h with such cylinder, and the transferrer G, in combination, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

8. The tube g, having ports hand h, iguitor K,having hole k, and transverse holej, arranged combination, substantially as shown, and for the purpose herein described.

9. In a gas-engine, the rod I, lever L, toggle M, shaft O, and rod S, substantially as shown, by means of which the transferrer G is operated in the sameylinder with the piston C, and such transferrer is causedto make a full motion during the inward stroke of said piston C, whereby such transferrer alternately eXpels the residuum of explosion and charges the working-cylinder.

10. In a gas-engine, shaft D, rod I, lever L, toggle M, shaft O, rod S, and transferrer G,

in combination,substantially as shown, wherey by a full motion of such transferrer, alternated with intermittent rests, is produced at each revolution of the shaft D, for the purpose hereinbefore described.

ll. In a gas-engine, the cylinder B, piston C, shaft D, piston-rod D, rod I, lever L, toggle M, shaft O, rod S, and trausferrer G, substantially as shown, whereby such transferrer, coincidently with expelling the residuum oi' combustion, draws into the cylinder the charge for the next explosion', for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CHARTER. `\Vituesses:

XV. A. McCUNn, WILLIAM MANAI-IAN. 

